When we hit a million worldwide Covid deaths, it was a “grim milestone”. When we hit 2 million it was a “grim milestone”. When we hit 3 million deaths, yesterday, sure enough it was yet another “grim milestone “. I’m not saying it’s not serious. Bit we have to get off this gig where even one new case gives us the jeebies, and we can’t get back to “normal” until we have “Zero Covid”. That’s just a recipe for endless lockdowns.
Here’s another grim milestone: jailing media moguls and veteran democracy activists:
I don’t know any place in the world where it’s gone well when they’ve jailed people they don’t like. And I include China in this, despite its huge economic growth. I’ve enjoyed visiting (with quibbles), and even enjoyed living there for four years, but enjoyed even more returning to Hong Kong’s freer air. So now I worry how long that air will remain free for the rest of us who are not media tycoons or democracy activists. Folks in the US might hate mogul Rupert Murdoch, but they don’t jail him. More’s the pity some might say. But that’s bankrupt and immoral argument. [ADDED. Washington Post thinks “crackdowns show new level of viciousness”. I agree. Not necessary, but things have gone beyond what’s necessary in today’s perfervid climate]
Some, perhaps many, folks in Hong Kong will cheer — or at least privately applaud — the arrests of Jimmy Lai and co. He’s a prickly character, after all, and calling for Hong Kong independence, well, that’s just behind the pale! But there’s always Martin Niemöller to remind us: “First they came …”. It could be you next. It could even be me, for criticising the Supreme Leader, my best saviour being that I have so few readers…
While outside, the Koel calls his plaintive ko-el, ko-el, ko-el… seeking a mate or trying to scare away mummy Mynah birds so Madame Koel can lay her eggs in their nest, for they are cuckoos, Koels, and thus brood parasites. They can be irritating with their noisy calls, insistent, rising in pitch and volume. So I turn my mind to…
…last night when I made the perfect mini Beef Wellingtons. A demon white truffle infused duxelle covers a seared tenderloin medallion unilaterally Dijon-mustarded. 18 minutes at 220C to 55C meat temp. Rest. Slice. Landing just the rare side of medium-rare. Serve with crispy goose fat-cooked roast potatoes. MiM = melt in mouth, bliss.
